Tension erupted in Gwagwalada after a customer, identified as Manasseh B.P, accused the owner and workers of 1SAH Hassan Gabchiyari phone shop of issuing death threats against him following a dispute over a damaged phone screen repair.
According to Manasseh, the incident began on May 20 at about 9:57pm when he visited the shop owned by Hassan Gabchiyari to purchase a screen for his Tecno Camon device.
Narrating his ordeal, Manasseh said he specifically requested for a quality screen and also asked for a reliable technician to handle the repair. He alleged that one of the sales boys at the shop directed him to a phone repairer identified as Shuaibu, who operates directly in front of the shop and is allegedly connected to the business.
Manasseh claimed that during the repair process, the technician damaged the phone’s fingerprint button while attempting to open the device, allegedly because it was the first time he had worked on that particular model.
“The fingerprint was damaged because he didn’t know how to open the phone properly. We couldn’t finish the repair that day and I had to return the following day before the fingerprint was repaired,” Manasseh explained.
However, after the fingerprint was allegedly fixed, the customer said the newly installed screen began malfunctioning.
Manasseh, who stated that he does not reside in Gwagwalada, said he later returned to the town and went straight back to the shop to complain about the faulty repair.
According to him, the situation escalated when one of the salespersons allegedly became aggressive, denied ever seeing him before, and threatened to fight him.
Feeling unsafe, Manasseh said he proceeded to the Gwagwalada Police Division to officially report the matter.
A female police officer was reportedly assigned to accompany him back to the shop in an attempt to peacefully resolve the dispute and invite the shop owner for questioning.
But on arrival, the complainant alleged that the salesperson became rude and confrontational even in the presence of the police officer, insisting he had committed no offence and refusing to follow the officer to the station.
During the intervention, another salesman who allegedly identified himself as a phone engineer reportedly requested for the phone in order to inspect and fix the screen issue.
The police officer later instructed Manasseh to bring the device to the station so the matter could be settled amicably.
However, according to the complainant, the situation took another dramatic turn after the engineer removed the phone screen and allegedly demanded to know how much Manasseh had initially paid into the shop’s account.
After learning the amount was ₦9,000, the technician allegedly condemned the phone screen and offered only a refund of the ₦9,000 payment.
Manasseh reportedly rejected the offer and instead demanded the return of his old screen, which he claimed had been functioning perfectly before the replacement aside from a visible crack.
The disagreement allegedly triggered chaos at the scene.
Manasseh alleged that Mr Hassan, alongside some of his friends and sales boys, began shouting and threatening him with violence.
According to the statement filed at the police station, the complainant alleged that some of the suspects threatened to mobilize boys to assault him and allegedly warned that “death will be his portion” anywhere they see him.
Fearing for their safety, Manasseh and his brother reportedly fled back to the police station, leaving the female police officer behind at the scene.
Chronicles Reporters gathered that Manasseh has now formally filed a complaint at the Gwagwalada Police Division over alleged criminal intimidation, threat to life, and destruction of property.
Due to the heavy rainfall that reportedly affected movement and operations at the time of the incident, no immediate arrests were made.
However, police authorities allegedly assured the complainant that investigations have commenced and that all persons found culpable would be invited and brought to justice.